Londoners told to expect a wet and rainy Christmas Day

Londoners are being told to brace themselves for a wet December 25 rather than a white Christmas.

The Met Office has said to expect rain on Christmas Eve which will continue overnight until Christmas Day.

Temperatures will plunge on December 25 and there will be some high winds.

The last few shopping days before Christmas Day are likely to be wet and windy, but temperatures will be mild.

Tonight is expected to be mild and breezy with only light rain showers. Monday is expected to be the most pleasant day, with mild temperatures, cloudy skies and the odd spot of rain in most parts of the capital.

But meteorologists said the weather will turn windy and wet from Tuesday.

Warnings of heavy rain have been issued in some northern parts of the country, including Yorkshire, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.

Drivers should be aware of flooding on roads and gale-force winds blowing in from the south west, the Met Office warns.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said: “Temperatures will be a little bit milder than they have been of late but, with the winds strengthening, it’s not going to feel any more pleasant out and about.”

“We’re looking at mean [wind] speeds of 30 to 35mph. In parts of Northern England we could see gusts of 55 to 65mph so do watch out for that, particularly if you’re taking to the roads today.”

No snow is expected to fall except on high grounds in Scotland, making a white Christmas in London unlikely.